Pajama Program, Inc.

Mission:
Pajama Program MissionThe Need is Great. There are more than 500,000 children in the foster care system in the U.S. and more than 1 million children who are not living with their natural parents. These children have been through great upheaval and trauma, without exception. So many of these children are living in shelters and group homes and too often are shuffled from one temporary home to another. Many of these youngsters have been abused or abandoned, and in many cases, have never enjoyed the simple comfort of having a mother or father tuck them in at bedtime and read to them to encourage an early educational experience. They have fallen behind in their reading skills and no longer have access to books to read on a regular basis. They have been removed from school for months at a time with no continuation of their reading practice. Through the Pajama Program, we are contributing to a warmer, more loving and supportive reading environment for these special children. Programs:
We provide a steady stream of thousands of new books and pajamas to children in need across the country and to several countries around the world. There are now more than 1200 Receiving Organizations. (children's shelters, group homes and temporary living facilities) on our list. Our pajamas and books arrive at each of these Receiving Organizations regularly. We receive emergency calls for pajamas and books on a daily basis and it is our goal to answer each request with pajamas and books for the children immediately.

Community Reviews

When I deliver new pajamas to agencies in need the excitement and appreciation is amazing. Some non-profits do so much with so little. The pajama program helps to provide a need like no other. It may seem like something so small to have a new book and pair of pajamas but when you see the excitement on a parent's face or a child is when I realize what a big difference I make. Thank you Pajama Program for providing an amazing experience for myself and so many others.

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

I love collecting and packing pajamas for this organization, knowing that these children have a new pair of pajamas for the night. I remember every Christmas I would get new pajmams for the Holiday Season. Every Day is Special in the eyes of a child and lets keep letting them know how special they Truly are.

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

I began my journey with the Pajama Program in an odd sort of way. I have my own pet/farm care business and was taking care of the pets belonging to the last Maine Chapter President of the Pajama Program. She was away on vacation and I went by her house to feed and care for her cats. When I got there, there were almost 40 boxes of books that UPS had just delivered to her home. She wasn't due back for a week and it was starting to rain. So I secured the cats upstairs and carried all the boxes inside. When she returned, I asked her about the books and pajamas and she told me all about the Pajama Program. I began to help by delivering pajamas and books to various shelters throughout Maine. The items were very much appreciated and at all the shelters staff would come out and unload boxes from my van. The best trip, though, was at a shelter in Portland that handles a lot of refugees as well as local people. There was a young girl, about 7, dancing and spinning around in the lobby all smiles. And when I looked at her, I was so pleased that she would have a brand new pair of pajamas and a book of her own. It's great to be cuddled up in new Pjs....and to me, a book is the most magical thing to own. Think about it, it opens so many worlds and encourages ready And very importantly if you are homeless, you can't own much, but a book you can carry with you, it can be yours. And Pajamas just make you feel good at night. I'm very pleased to be a part of this program. It's the little things that can make a real difference!

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

I became involved with the Maryland Chapter of the Pajama Program in 2011. As a volunteer, last year i collected 170 new pairs of PJ's for children in unfortunate situations on the Maryland Eastern Shore. Being apart of this program has deeply touched my heart. I still "melt" every single time i receive a new donation of PJ's or books for our babies. The thought that i am giving a child a glimpse of "Hope" warms my heart and makes me smile !! Here is a video i created of my last PJ Drive.. Enjoy !!

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

I have been enthusiastically volunteering for the Pajama Program in Maryland and D.C. since 2009. We provide new pajamas and new books for children living in impoverished circumstances. Imagine, having a social worker drop you off at a shelter or hospital in the middle of the night. Some of these children arrive wearing only underwear and wrapped in a blanket. Others have had to flee with their mothers and siblings to a battered women's shelter. Young runaways show up on winter nights with only the clothes on their back. Families huddle sleeping in one room because that is the only room with heat. As I have visited organizations across the state, I have met so many caretakers with stories like these. They do so much with so few resources; their own hearts are lightened by being able to give the children what may be their first pair of new pajamas they ever remember wearing. This work is made possible only by the generosity of donors. Schoolchildren, scout troops, church groups, office workers, Mom's clubs, corporate sponsorships, and many other organizations bless us with new pajamas and books....in turn, we get them to where they are needed. I never forget that every pair of pajamas represents a child, and a book can be a source of solace and inspiration on a lonely night.

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

I volunteer with the Idaho Chapter of Pajama Program. We collect new pajamas and new books for Idaho kids in crisis or transition. We deliver donations that we collect directly to local organizations that serve children and families, including homeless shelters, domestic violence safe houses, and foster care programs. Pajamas and books help kids going through a stressful time re-establish a sense of routine, stay warm, and feel loved by their community. Volunteering with this group is a deeply rewarding experience!

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

The Akron Chapter of the National Pajama Program is one of the finest organizations we have worked with. Our agency has received such nice pajamas and books for children going into foster care for several years from this program. It's nearly undescribably the joy that comes to a child's face when they receive a pair of comfy pajamas and a book during a very traumatic time in their life. We wo very much appreciate the kindness and generosity of this group. They help us do better work!

When was your last experience with this nonprofit?

As the director of community outreach for WJCS, the largest human services agency in Westchester County, NY, I have had the pleasure of working with the Pajama Program for the last 5 years. The program runs seamlessly and our children and their parents, most living below the federal poverty line, are thrilled and grateful to be the recipients of the pajamas and books.